But Popovich said the inability to score was not the problem in Game 2.

“We shot 50 percent for the game, and basically doubled the number of free throws they shot,” Popovich said. “We shot 50 percent from 3(-point range), and we lost the game. So you have to figure out why, and when you give the ball back 24 times that's not good.”

Priorities: After he helped limit Parker to 12 points on just 10 shots in Game 2, Mavericks defensive ace Shawn Marion grabbed a quick shower, hopped in a waiting car and rushed to San Antonio International Airport, where a private jet was waiting to fly him to Chicago to be on hand for the birth of his first child, according to ESPN Dallas.

The 35-year-old veteran is expected back in Dallas for Saturday's Game 3.

They're free, after all: Nearly as alarming as the 24 turnovers the Spurs committed in Game 2 was their uncharacteristically bad foul shooting. The fourth most accurate free-throw-shooting team during the regular season at 78.5 percent, the Spurs made only 18 of 28 from the line (62.1).

As Thursday's practice concluded with players divided into groups of three to shoot free throws, Spurs shooting coach Chip Engelland called out: “Nobody leaves until you make 10 in a row.”

He can see clearly now: Inadvertently poked in the eye by Mavs center Samuel Dalembert as he chased down a rebound during the second half of Game 2, Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard said he felt no after-effects on Thursday.